Corrina was hopping mad when she got on the bus leaving the Singer house. Why didn't Manny say something? Why didn't he ask that woman to leave! He was ashamed to admit that he was attracted to her! Then again, maybe he was stringing her along wanting a back alley relationship with her while he paraded his "Jenny" on his arm for his peers.

Jevina was right. White folks would make you feel that you were a part of their family just to use you. Even as she thought it though, she knew it wasn't true. She could read Manny like a book and she knew that he wanted her.

She got off the bus and walked into the house. Jevina seemed surprised to see her.

"My, Corrina you're home early." she said "We haven't even had dinner yet."

Corrina didn't respond but looked under the kitchen counter and retrieved the vase that she knew was there.

"I suppose he gave you those flowers." Jevina said eying her.

Corrina did not reply but put the flowers in the vase and added water.

Jevina could tell that her sister was not in a good mood and dropped the subject. She guessed that Corrina and Mr. Singer must have had some sort of disagreement. Good! Now was the time to make her move.

"Anthony called." Jevina said casually. "He wants to come by this evening. I told him that I didn't know how long you'd be working. I have to call him back."

"Tell him to come over around seven" Corrina replied walking off into the bedroom.

Jevina smiled. Maybe things would work out with Anthony after all.

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Corrina knew it was a mistake inviting Anthony over the minute they sat down on the couch. She was glad that the dog jumped on the sofa and sat between them. Why wasn't her heart racing? Where was the heat she felt when she was around Manny? Why couldn't she feel that way about Anthony. Life would be a whole lot simpler if she was attracted to him.

The more Anthony talked, the more irritated she got. She was glad to hear the phone ring.
It was Molly who was trying to talk about Jenny being over there with her father. That was the last thing she needed to hear. She could not get Molly off the phone once she heard Anthony's voice in the background.

Corrina gave up and laid the phone down as Molly sang. It beat sitting on the sofa listening to Anthony talk.

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Corrina got off the bus to the Singer's house almost forty five minutes late. She saw Manny standing outside waiting for her. She did not want to talk to him.

She walked by him and heard him say that he wanted to talk to her, but she ignored him. It angered her to no end when he stated that he employed her? Was that all she was to him?

She turned around and came back outside.

"Oh yes you did!" she exclaimed

She told him that she was giving him her notice and made a point of calling him Mr. Singer instead of Manny. He wanted to be her boss, then he'd be her boss and nothing else! Manny began explaining that Jenny was just a friend and that he really wanted her to stay. She stared at him a moment trying not to be taken in by his puppy dog eyes. If he wanted her there, then why didn't he say so and send Jenny away!

She wasn't going to let him off that easily. She then reminded him that this was her job and that she expected only to be paid for her time. She wanted him to understand that since he could not acknowledge their relationship other than a working one, that would be what she would give him. He smiled at her and she felt her heart jump. Who did she think she was fooling? He could see right through her, damn him! If only he wasn't so cute and sexy. If only she didn't want him. If only he wasn't looking at her with that silly grin on his face!

He began putting his suit jacket on and without thinking she began helping him. She found herself fussing over him, the smell of his cologne invading her nostrils. She pulled him by his lapels closer to her as she straightened his collar. She did not even realize that they had given each other a goodbye kiss until after it was all over. All she could think of as she went into the house was : Who are you fooling, Corrina. You're already in way over your head.

**********************************

That evening Manny came home and sat her down. Molly was outside in the back yard playing with Lois.

She didn't want to love this man, but he already was too far gone. He was holding her hands in his rubbing his thumb across her knuckles sending pleasant shocks through her stomach. He was looking at her with his eyes full of longing and desire. Just looking at him made her hot. She had to remain in control. He took her hands and bought them to his lips. His lips were soft and inviting on her knuckles. She wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips. She felt herself grow even warmer.

She didn't know how much longer she could hold out. He was, of course, still being a perfect gentleman. She wasn't having such nice thoughts about him. She wondered what he looked like with no clothes on, how he would feel inside of her.

She was glad when Molly came in from the outside. She jumped up and began setting the table for dinner.

*************************

Corrina was pleasantly surprised to see Manny home early. He came with a kite in tow for Molly.

They went outside and before long the kite was high in the sky. Manny put his arms around her shoulders.

The noise behind them drew her attention and she noticed that Manny looked back and removed his arm. She looked around and saw the disapproving stare of the neighbor, Mrs. Murphy.

Manny then put his arm back around her as it to make a statement that he didn't care what anyone thought. She smiled to herself and put her arm around him also. It felt good to acknowledge their relationship to the whole world.

She was surprised when another furniture truck pulled up with a pink sofa. She watched Manny remembering his reaction when the chair and ottoman was delivered. He seemed to take it much better and even joked about it.

The sofa had to be put temporarily in the backyard until the movers could come back and remove the door in order to get it in the house.

They enjoyed the rest of the evening and after Molly was put to bed, Manny invited her to come out and sit on the new sofa with him. He played Duke Ellington on the record player and when their favorite song came on he asked her to dance.

Her heart skipped a beat as he pulled her close into his arms. She could smell his cologne...and him. She could feel him grow hard against her and she blushed to herself. He wanted her. She wanted him too even though her arousal was not as obvious. He pulled back a little and she looked up at him. He bought his lips to hers in a kiss. Heat ran throughout her body and the dampness between her thighs increased with the kiss. His arousal became more pronounced, increasing hers.

She glanced over and saw Molly staring at them from the window and she bought it to Manny's attention. He looked at the window and she told him that she had to go. She knew that she had better leave before she did more than she planned on doing.

He pulled her in his arms again kissing her. "I haven't felt this way in a long time, Corrina" he confessed.

She had to admit that she felt the same way. She longed to take her hand and touch him, but she knew that would be both of their undoing. They separated and walked to the house.

When they reached the door he told her that the day was coming that she would possess all of him and he would possess all of her. She hoped that he meant what he said.

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